Hybrid Soteriology

[Van]

Andrew Sandlin has provided the following information concerning a widely held Baptist view of Soteriology:

“Man is a sinner, but not so totally depraved that he cannot seek after Christ. God sent Christ his Son to die on the cross for everyone in order to make salvation available to all who would receive the message of the gospel. Before the foundation of the world God elected to salvation those that he knew beforehand would believe if they heard his gospel. When an individual hears the gospel and makes a decision for Christ, he becomes justified. Once he has received salvation, he can never forfeit or lose that salvation.”

This view is a hybrid, a little bit Calvinist and a little bit Arminian, and a whole lot of fiction.

1) Yes, the lost unregenerate person is able to seek after God and to trust in Christ. This is demonstrated in Matthew 13 where soils 2, 3 and 4 accept to varying degrees the gospel of Christ.

2) Yes died as a ransom for all, tasting death for all people, in order to become the means of reconciliation for the whole of humanity,
1 John 2:2.

3) No, God did not choose for salvation before creation foreseen individuals, with or without faith. Before creation, God chose Logos, the Word to be His Redeemer, so He also chose us corporately as part of the group of believers Christ would redeem. Thus He chose us in Him.

4) No, when an individual makes a decision for Christ, that does not result in the individuals justification. Soils 2 and 3 of Matthew 13 made a decision for Christ but were not saved or justified. Only when and if God chooses to credit a person's faith in Christ as righteousness, does God then transfer the person spiritually into Christ where the individual undergoes the washing of regeneration and is justified, made righteous and perfect.

5) Yes, once an individual receives reconciliation in Christ, they are indwelt, and sealed in Christ forever.

 

[Marooncat79]

1). Roman’s 3:11. There are nine that seek after God

3). Reread Ephesians chapter 1; Jeremiah’s testimony.

4). Salavation is not of him that willeth John 1:12-14; Romans 9:16-33

 

[Van]

1). Roman’s 3:11. There are nine that seek after God

3). Reread Ephesians chapter 1; Jeremiah’s testimony.

4). Salavation is not of him that willeth John 1:12-14; Romans 9:16-33

There are none who seek God when they are sinning! There are none who seek God all the time.

No need to reread, as the OP is consistent with all scripture.

No one said salvation is of him that wills to be saved, the OP said the opposite and therefore is consistent with Romans 9:16.

Once again a naysayer addresses what was not said to derail discussion of what was actually said.

 

[Aaron]

There are none who seek God when they are sinning! There are none who seek God all the time.

Once again the self-proclaimed sage knows better than the Apostle what he meant to say.

 

[Ben1445]

Salavation is not of him that willeth John 1:12-14; Romans 9:16-33

Of course not. Otherwise he would be saving himself. But what is the purpose of his will being put into the text? The believer must have a will in the matter or it would not be mentioned.

 

[Van]

Once again the self-proclaimed sage knows better than the Apostle what he meant to say.

Once again the self proclaimed mind reader attributes nonsense to others, rather than follow Paul's repurposing of Psalm 14 to support we all under sin because we do not seek God all the time, which means we sin at least some of the time.

 

[JesusFan]

There are none who seek God when they are sinning! There are none who seek God all the time.

No need to reread, as the OP is consistent with all scripture.

No one said salvation is of him that wills to be saved, the OP said the opposite and therefore is consistent with Romans 9:16.

Once again a naysayer addresses what was not said to derail discussion of what was actually said.

Actually, peter and Isaiah stated to us not seek after God period, not when just sinning

 

[Van]

Actually, peter and Isaiah stated to us not seek after God period, not when just sinning

Totally false assertion, God's word teaches again and again that the lost must seek God and His righteousness.

 

[JesusFan]

Totally false assertion, God's word teaches again and again that the lost must seek God and His righteousness.

So you deny what Isaiah and peter were inspired to record down to us then?

 

[Van]

So you deny what Isaiah and peter were inspired to record down to us then?

So you deny God's word including Isaiah and 1 and 2 Peter? "Does seek ye first the kingdom of God" even ring a bell?

 

[JesusFan]

So you deny God's word including Isaiah and 1 and 2 Peter? "Does seek ye first the kingdom of God" even ring a bell?

Was that addressed to His sheep or to everyone though?

 

[JD731]

1). Roman’s 3:11. There are nine that seek after God

3). Reread Ephesians chapter 1; Jeremiah’s testimony.

4). Salavation is not of him that willeth John 1:12-14; Romans 9:16-33

Salvation is a NT doctrine when it is defined by God instead of the Reformed. It, like all other provisions of God, has a 3 part signature.

1) Past - I have been saved from the PENALTY of sin- eternal separation from God
2) Present- I am being saved from the POWER of sin - (sanctification)
3) Future - I will be saved from the PRESENCE or the POSSIBILITY of sin - Glorification

None of this is possible without the Spirit of God indwelling the physical body.

The Spirit of God cannot indwell a body that is infected with sin and the Spirit when he indwells the body is the agent of eternal life and applies the sin cleansing blood of the Lamb that alone can wash it away. This is not according to me;

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Re 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (this in the context of the churches - horrors - washing is not in many new translations)

This is the context of Jn 1:12 which is quoted above as a proof text for Reformed theology. The words were written by John but spoken by Jesus Christ before he died for our sins and rose bodily from the dead in his glorified state. Obviously a sinner could not be born again at that time because the testing of Jesus was not complete at that time and the Spirit that indwelled his mortal body had not been poured out. Here are the words;

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Spirit that dwelled in Jesus is God. In Jn 3

Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.


Jn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Comparing these scriptures there are two things that are absolutely required for one to have light (understanding. They are 1) The words of God and 2) the Spirit of God.

This is what is wrong with Reformed doctrines. Neither of these two requirements are the lone essentials for Calvinists and their cousins, Reformed Baptists.

Comparing the history given in the Acts post resurrection of Jesus Christ we find that God indeed gave the new birth by pouring out the Spirit as a gift but not to everyone at the same time. He gave him first to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea and then to the Samaritans and he likened this event to a "baptism" whereby all those to whom he gave the Spirit at that time were "baptized," In scripture, to be baptized is to be immersed, so he immersed Israel with the Spirit from heaven and likened it to water so all one must do is open their mouths and drink. Ten years later he did the same for the gentiles in Acts 10 and told the Jews about it in Acts 11:15-17.

God has willed to save every one who comes to him through Christ and those who wants his salvation must come to him in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting that all this is true.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The operative word in this verse is "will." God has already made the way of salvation open to any who will drink. God has already come to man and has made the way to him open because he wanted to. Now men must come to God because they want to but they must come through the only way that God has provided, through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the way to God.

The way of the Reformed is not good news, glad tidings, because it leaves no way for the vast majority of sinners.

This is the truth on 9/11/2025.

 

[Paleouss]

Andrew Sandlin has provided the following information concerning a widely held Baptist view of Soteriology:

“Man is a sinner, but not so totally depraved that he cannot seek after Christ. God sent Christ his Son to die on the cross for everyone in order to make salvation available to all who would receive the message of the gospel. Before the foundation of the world God elected to salvation those that he knew beforehand would believe if they heard his gospel. When an individual hears the gospel and makes a decision for Christ, he becomes justified. Once he has received salvation, he can never forfeit or lose that salvation.”

Good morning to you Van. I hope you had a good week. I myself am heading to a four day anniversary weekend. So I won't be able to respond to anything (isn't that perfect).

As with most others I respond to, I agree with a lot of what you wrote in your OP but hold a different stance on some other things you write in the OP. I'd like to respond to Andrew Sandlin's use of the word "seek"...

(A) Man is a sinner, but not so totally deprived that he cannot seek after Christ.

The problem I have found is people don't enter these conversations with the same ideas of what "seek" means. In its more modest forms, the concept seek can mean what Paul said in Acts, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him" (Acts 17:27).

When Paul made this statement in Acts 17:27. He was standing “in the midst of the Areopagus” (Acts 17:22) addressing “men of Athens” (Acts 17:22) who were polytheists and pagans. These were not Jews or already converted Gentile Christians but the intellectual elite of Athens.

In this sense of the the word "seek", Paul seems to tell us that yes, mankind in his total depravity can (and God desires him to) seek the Lord by "groping for Him". For the Calvinist this might be their natural theology from Romans chapter 1 & 2.

The phrase "grope for Him" seems relevant. That is, a blind man can grope and find some things but He cannot fully understand for his lack of sight. This would seem to suggest that mankind has been given and at some moment or moments contain some enlightening grace from God. Whether that be from natural grace, the enlightening grace of Jesus Christ as our light to the world that is victorious in His Cosmic Triumph, the grace of having a gospel that is a light to the world, or the Law that has permeated all men's minds and acts as a law unto themselves.

Even John Calvin thought all men received some kind of grace, if ever so small compared to having a relationship with God.

"But I cannot admit that all this is any reason why he should not grant the reprobate also some taste of his grace, why he should not irradiate their minds with some sparks of his light, why he should not give them some perception of his goodness, and in some sort engrave his word on their hearts. Otherwise, where would be the temporal faith mentioned by Mark 4:17 ? There is therefore some knowledge even in the reprobate, which afterwards vanishes away, either because it did not strike roots sufficiently deep, or because it withers, being choked up."
(Calvin Commentaries Hebrews 6:4)

In other words, I'd like to ask Mr. Sandlin what he intends the word "seek" to include or exclude.

I've went on long enough about the word "seek".

Peace to you brother

 

[Marooncat79]

Salvation is a NT doctrine when it is defined by God instead of the Reformed. It, like all other provisions of God, has a 3 part signature.

1) Past - I have been saved from the PENALTY of sin- eternal separation from God
2) Present- I am being saved from the POWER of sin - (sanctification)
3) Future - I will be saved from the PRESENCE or the POSSIBILITY of sin - Glorification

None of this is possible without the Spirit of God indwelling the physical body.

The Spirit of God cannot indwell a body that is infected with sin and the Spirit when he indwells the body is the agent of eternal life and applies the sin cleansing blood of the Lamb that alone can wash it away. This is not according to me;

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Re 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (this in the context of the churches - horrors - washing is not in many new translations)

This is the context of Jn 1:12 which is quoted above as a proof text for Reformed theology. The words were written by John but spoken by Jesus Christ before he died for our sins and rose bodily from the dead in his glorified state. Obviously a sinner could not be born again at that time because the testing of Jesus was not complete at that time and the Spirit that indwelled his mortal body had not been poured out. Here are the words;

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Spirit that dwelled in Jesus is God. In Jn 3

Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.


Jn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Comparing these scriptures there are two things that are absolutely required for one to have light (understanding. They are 1) The words of God and 2) the Spirit of God.

This is what is wrong with Reformed doctrines. Neither of these two requirements are the lone essentials for Calvinists and their cousins, Reformed Baptists.

Comparing the history given in the Acts post resurrection of Jesus Christ we find that God indeed gave the new birth by pouring out the Spirit as a gift but not to everyone at the same time. He gave him first to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea and then to the Samaritans and he likened this event to a "baptism" whereby all those to whom he gave the Spirit at that time were "baptized," In scripture, to be baptized is to be immersed, so he immersed Israel with the Spirit from heaven and likened it to water so all one must do is open their mouths and drink. Ten years later he did the same for the gentiles in Acts 10 and told the Jews about it in Acts 11:15-17.

God has willed to save every one who comes to him through Christ and those who wants his salvation must come to him in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting that all this is true.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The operative word in this verse is "will." God has already made the way of salvation open to any who will drink. God has already come to man and has made the way to him open because he wanted to. Now men must come to God because they want to but they must come through the only way that God has provided, through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the way to God.

The way of the Reformed is not good news, glad tidings, because it leaves no way for the vast majority of sinners.

This is the truth on 9/11/2025.

Reformation Theology is Biblical Theology

 

[JD731]

Reformation Theology is Biblical Theology

I have a problem with your fundamental doctrine of Reformation Christianity, which is the "L," limited atonement, as it is expressed by most Reformed teachers. This doctrine removes me from the fellowship of this movement above any others they teach.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now (in this age after the cross and resurrection the mystery is brought to light by the gospel going to the nations to save sinners) is made manifest, (a conjunction in the English language) by the scriptures of the (NT) prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (those who are obedient and believe are predestined to be glorified in body)

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

To teach, as the Reformed generally do, that men are unable to believe the gospel because of their nature and that they must be infused with faith not their own is a false gospel.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:


Women also believed.

and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

If God commands all men (and women) everywhere to repent and believe the gospel, how say you that God created them in such a way they cannot obey? This form of the Reformed faith is a false gospel, IMO.

 

[Van]

Good morning to you Van. I hope you had a good week. I myself am heading to a four day anniversary weekend. So I won't be able to respond to anything (isn't that perfect).

As with most others I respond to, I agree with a lot of what you wrote in your OP but hold a different stance on some other things you write in the OP. I'd like to respond to Andrew Sandlin's use of the word "seek"...

The problem I have found is people don't enter these conversations with the same ideas of what "seek" means. In its more modest forms, the concept seek can mean what Paul said in Acts, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him" (Acts 17:27).

When Paul made this statement in Acts 17:27. He was standing “in the midst of the Areopagus” (Acts 17:22) addressing “men of Athens” (Acts 17:22) who were polytheists and pagans. These were not Jews or already converted Gentile Christians but the intellectual elite of Athens.

In this sense of the the word "seek", Paul seems to tell us that yes, mankind in his total depravity can (and God desires him to) seek the Lord by "groping for Him". For the Calvinist this might be their natural theology from Romans chapter 1 & 2.

The phrase "grope for Him" seems relevant. That is, a blind man can grope and find some things but He cannot fully understand for his lack of sight. This would seem to suggest that mankind has been given and at some moment or moments contain some enlightening grace from God. Whether that be from natural grace, the enlightening grace of Jesus Christ as our light to the world that is victorious in His Cosmic Triumph, the grace of having a gospel that is a light to the world, or the Law that has permeated all men's minds and acts as a law unto themselves.

Even John Calvin thought all men received some kind of grace, if ever so small compared to having a relationship with God.


In other words, I'd like to ask Mr. Sandlin what he intends the word "seek" to include or exclude.

I've went on long enough about the word "seek".

Peace to you brother

Actually I think you are attempting to claim fallen people cannot actually seek God or trust in Christ without supernatural enablement. But of course you did not say that. Scripture says many will seek the narrow door that leads to life but will not find it. No amount of legerdemain will nullify the biblical teaching that many lost people seek God.

 

[Marooncat79]

I have a problem with your fundamental doctrine of Reformation Christianity, which is the "L," limited atonement, as it is expressed by most Reformed teachers. This doctrine removes me from the fellowship of this movement above any others they teach.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now (in this age after the cross and resurrection the mystery is brought to light by the gospel going to the nations to save sinners) is made manifest, (a conjunction in the English language) by the scriptures of the (NT) prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (those who are obedient and believe are predestined to be glorified in body)

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

To teach, as the Reformed generally do, that men are unable to believe the gospel because of their nature and that they must be infused with faith not their own is a false gospel.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:


Women also believed.

and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

If God commands all men (and women) everywhere to repent and believe the gospel, how say you that God created them in such a way they cannot obey? This form of the Reformed faith is a false gospel, IMO.

Can you obey the 10 Commandments? No

But God still tells us to do so

 

[Marooncat79]

I have a problem with your fundamental doctrine of Reformation Christianity, which is the "L," limited atonement, as it is expressed by most Reformed teachers. This doctrine removes me from the fellowship of this movement above any others they teach.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now (in this age after the cross and resurrection the mystery is brought to light by the gospel going to the nations to save sinners) is made manifest, (a conjunction in the English language) by the scriptures of the (NT) prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (those who are obedient and believe are predestined to be glorified in body)

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

To teach, as the Reformed generally do, that men are unable to believe the gospel because of their nature and that they must be infused with faith not their own is a false gospel.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:


Women also believed.

and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

If God commands all men (and women) everywhere to repent and believe the gospel, how say you that God created them in such a way they cannot obey? This form of the Reformed faith is a false gospel, IMO.

Monergism in Acts(ion): Seven Texts That Affirm the Priority of God’s Grace

theaquilareport.com

Regeneration Precedes Faith: Six Passages in Paul That Prove Faith is a Gift

theaquilareport.com

Paul Anticipates—and Answers—Objections to Election in Romans 9

theaquilareport.com

 

[JD731]

Monergism in Acts(ion): Seven Texts That Affirm the Priority of God’s Grace

theaquilareport.com

I charge the Reformed religion of a 180 degree error. This religion teaches the exact opposite of the stated truths. When I say this you should understand I am not attacking the poster or any person who has been deceived by this false religion. I would like to help those I can but I an attacking the religion itself.

Let me show you what I mean from the gentleman's comment in this article. In it he will make the claim that God acted by grace to give men faith. You will see that he said that. I will quote him now;

When it comes to the doctrine of salvation (soteriology), monergism is doctrine that says God alone accomplishes salvation. Etymologically, the word means one (mono) energy (energos), and suggests that all the power for salvation comes from the triune God. Monergism stands against any form of cooperation in salvation whereby God’s work is joined with or completed by man.

Historically, monergism stands upon the writings of Augustine, Calvin, and others in the Reformed tradition. But more importantly, those writings stand upon the words of Scripture. Recently, as I read through the book of Acts, this doctrine stood out, in thinking about the way Luke often spoke of salvation and attributed the faith of believers to the antecedent work of God. In other words, Luke makes it apparent, salvation comes by faith and repentance, but faith and repentance come from the grace of God. (I also spent time laboring this point in my last two sermons on Romans 3 and Colossians 1–2).

I am going to give two instances of this 180 degree error in a context that is actually dealing with this very subject. I encourage the reader to read more of the context than I am quoting here and consider carefully what is said. I say that because one must understand some things God says well enough to be saved from the penalty of our sins. I think this is maybe one of them.

1 ¶ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


The point Paul is making here using this whole chapter is that the righteousness God requires has not ever been by works but by grace. He uses three examples to demonstrate his point that righteousness is imputed by God to the man who has faith. The evidence of this faith is obedience to what God says to men in whatever dispensation he says it. The three examples show all three in different operative principle of divine dealing of God with men. In other words, all these men who were justified believed what God said to them, but God did not say the same things to them. The point: justification is by the principle of faith in the word of God because God is a gracious God in all dispensation.

Now mark this paragraph because I want you to get my final point in this post.

So, the three examples was Abraham before the giving of the Mosaic Law. This means that all people who believed God, all the way back to Abel, were justified by faith with the evidence of obedience to what he said to them. Even though God is a gracious God, not every one was justified, not because they did not understand or God was not gracious to them, it was because they were not obedient to what God said. Therefore his grace was nullified by their disobedience.

The second example was David under the Law of Moses. He was a man after God's own heart but he was not justified by keeping the Law of Moses, he was justified by believing God and demonstrated his heart was with God because of his obedience to his word. God was a gracious God to those like David who lived under the Law and demonstrated his faith by his faithful obedience to what God said. David's faith was imputed to him for righteousness. So says the scriptures.

Thirdly, Those who lived after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That is us today who find ourselves under a dispensation where the actual operative principle of divine dealing is none that came before it but by grace itself. This is possible because there is no sin imputed to men in this age because Christ has taken it away.

Now get this. Our faith is not imputed to us for righteousness as it was in dispensations before but Jesus Christ himself IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS because when we believe he takes up residence in our mortal bodies in the person of his holy Spirit.

I know this truth will go over most heads of those who read this post but I will try anyways.

Rom 5:3 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Think about why I posted that verse in the context when the law ceased to be the operative principle of divine dealing while at the same time God had punished every citizen of the earth who broke it by expending all his wrath against sin of all dispensations, before and after, on the person of one man, his own son, who was not guilty of ever having broken his law. He can now give his righteousness to the guilty sinner who will receive it. A synonym for his righteousness is his Spirit that indwelt him and empowered him over sin while he lived on this earth in a weak body like ours.

Here is what God said about us, the third group;

22 And therefore it (his believing, his faith in what God said) was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

Now watch this;

24 But for us also, (faith is the constant and even though we are included from a different age, the gift of righteousness is by believing God's word and accessing his grace through faith), to whom it (perfect righteousness) shall be imputed, if (the condition) we believe on him (God the Father) that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

So it is easy to see that men have faith and can believe, and many do. God is a gracious God and has said he will justify us and give us his indwelling Spirit if we will believe in Jesus. So then, the grace of God is accessed by faith in all generations.

Here is my first proof text that the Reformed are 180 degrees off.

Rom 4:6 Therefore it (righteousness) is of faith, that it (righteousness) might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Here is number 2;

Romans5:1 ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

You read the quote from the Reformed who said the opposite; He said that we have access by grace into this faith. A total turn around.

 

[Van]

Yes! Calvinism claims the opposite of what scripture teaches again and again.

Regeneration before faith?

Chosen individually before faith.

The lost do not and can not seek God.

The lost cannot understand the spiritual things concerning the invisible attributes of God.

I could go on but you get the idea.